My Baby’s Gone, Chapter 24
Luis came into Sam’s office. Special Agent Monroe was there.
“ Sam, you wanted me?”
“ Yes, Luis. We wanted to talk to you.”
“ About what?”
“ About your ‘alibi’ when the Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald kidnapping was
taking place, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald.”
“ I told you, Agent Monroe.”
“ Yes. You got a call about a meth lab. Your car broke down. We checked.
There is no meth lab. In fact, you didn’t get any call on your line for
an hour before you left the station. And, your car wound up in Harmony,
with nothing being wrong with it.”
“ I don’t know what you’re talking about. Pull the LUDS. “
“ We did. That’s how we know you didn’t get any meth lab tipoff. And, your
car is in fine shape.”
“ It broke down.”
“ So you say.”
“ Yes, so I say.”
“ Well, let me tell you this, Officer. We don’t believe you. You have NO
alibi for the time of the kidnapping, and you have more than enough motive.
And, you definitely have the skills to pull off a crime of this nature.
Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald is sick. She needs treatment. You’re doing her no
favors.”
“ I didn’t kidnap Sheridan.”
“ Well, we don’t believe you.”
“ What are you saying?”
“ Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, you’re under the arrest for the kidnapping of
Sheridan Crane Lopez-Fitzgerald.”
Alistair was at his desk when the phone rang.
“ Alistair Crane. Yes. I see. Thank you.”
“ Who was that?”
“ The FBI. They’ve arrested your brother.”
“ Did he admit to it? Where is Sheridan?”
“ Calm down, Antonio. Luis is a cop. He’s not going to give up Sheridan’s
location now. But, let him be in jail for a few days…”
“ Luis will start to talk.”
“ Or, the person or persons helping him will get nervous watching him deal
with the strong arm of the law. One way or the other, Luis will lead us
to Sheridan’s location.”
Gwen listened intently outside the door.
Eve Russell was doing some paperwork at home, when her cellphone rang.
“ Eve Russell.”
“ Doctor Russell. Sheridan hurt Julian.”
Eve hung up the phone and rushed out the door.
Ethan was at his desk when Theresa came in.
“ Ethan! You have to help Luis.”
“ Theresa, what are you talking about?”
“ Luis has been arrested for Sheridan’s kidnapping! Everyone knows that
Luis didn’t do it.”
“ Didn’t he, Theresa? Nobody in this town was yelling about Sheridan being
locked up more than Luis.”
“ But, he didn’t kidnap her.”
“ Theresa, you don’t know that. I don’t know that. I’ll be honest…I don’t
even think Luis is wrong IF he actually did it.”
“ Then, what’s the matter?”
“ What’s the matter is that, once again, you’re using some excuse to try
and get next to Ethan!”
“ Gwen, this is about Luis and Sheridan! Remember, your so-called best
friend!”
“ Sheridan IS my best friend! But, you’re here to get close to Ethan, Theresa.
You know it, and I know it. Get out!”
“ Ethan..”
“ Theresa, please leave.”
“ Ethan, Luis…..”
“ Theresa, leave.”
“ Fine! I can’t believe you’d let THAT woman talk you out of helping Sheridan!”
Theresa left and slammed the door.
“ Gwen, I…”
Gwen held up her hand. “ Ethan, I don’t want to hear it. Especially since
I agree with Theresa. Luis needs your help. He needs a lawyer that will
work for him.”
“ If you agreed with Theresa, then why…”
“ Because it’s Theresa, Ethan.”
“ What do you want me to do?”
“ Just make sure Luis’ rights aren’t being violated. Don’t make it official
though. For some reason, I think that it’s in Luis’ best interest to look
like he’s all alone now.”
Eve came through the door and saw Julian spread out on the couch.
“ What happened?”, Eve asked.
“ He took off restraints.”, Ming replied.
“ Julian! I told you that Sheridan needed the restraints for at least the
next five days!”
“ Eve…”
“ And let me guess. He took off the restraints, Sheridan became crazed
and physically attacked Julian.”
Ming nodded. Eve shook her head and put her hands around Julian’s waist.
He winced, but smiled. “ You know, this pain is almost worth it to have
you this close to me again.”
Eve blushed as Ming’s eyebrow raised, and then Eve applied a bit more pressure
to Julian’s bruise, causing him to wince. “ Maybe you’ll be a good
boy now.”
“ Never, Doctor. Where’s the fun in that?”
Eve pulled up from Julian. “ Doesn’t seem like there are any broken ribs.
Just bruising. You should be fine, but take it easy.”
“ I will.And Sheridan?”
“ Julian, I expected this kind of reaction from her. Those drugs she was
on were powerful. Detox is an ugly process. I’ll go check on her.”
Eve left Julian and went into see Sheridan. She was sleeping. Eve checked
all her vitals, and stopped to talk to Ming in the hallway.
“ You put the right amount of sedative in her food?”
“ I’m cutting it with every meal, per your instructions.”
“ Thank you.”
“ Other than this, any problems with Sheridan?”
“ No. But, when she went after Julian, she was so…”
“ Powerful?”
“ Yes?”
“ The medications and her body reacting. It’ll only be a few more days
before she should be back to normal. No signs of Alistair?”
“ No. I know what to do in that case. Our getaway is prepared – always.”
“ Ok. I’ll go back to Julian.”
Eve went back into the living room, where Julian had a meal set up for
them.
“ Julian, I didn’t come here to eat.”
“ I know, but you’re here..”
“ Why do you always push your luck?”
“ Because I know you want me to.”